Ruffling attachment for sewing machines



May 23, 1950 A. F. DE- ROSE RUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1949 May 23, 1950 A. F. DE RosE 2,508,750

RUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April e, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZSnoentor Gttornegs Patented May 23,- 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Alfred F. De Rose, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application April 6, 1949, Serial No. 85,929

This invention relates to a ruiiling attachment for sewing machines, and has for an object to provide an improved ruflling attachment which may be assembled complete as a unit and then attached as such to a sewing machine by simple attaching means without requiring reconstruction of the machine, and therefore the device may be applied complete by a simple operation to sewing machines already installed in a factory.

It is also an object to provide an improved construction for mounting the ruiiler which will hold this device in a positive position regardless of the speed of the sewing machine.

A further object is to provide a device of this character with means whereby the movement or throw of the ruiller blade may be easily varied from no movement to maximum.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a ruiiiing attachment in which all the operating parts are located to the rear or in back of the presser foot of the sewing machine so that they do not obstruct the operator's view or annoy the operator with their movement, and thus there is nothing at any time to obstruct or interfere with a clear view of the operations involved, and there is also nothing to injure the operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a sewing machine head showing my improved rufiling device attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end view looking from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view looking from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail side view of the rufller blade support;

Fig. 6 is a view of the rufller bladeand support looking from the opposite side of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view thereof, and

Fig. 8 is a front View of a portion of the machine head together with a section of the drive for the rufliing attachment from the main shaft.

The bed of the sewing machine is indicated at l0, and extending upwardly and above whichis the head H in which is mounted the usual drive shaft l2 with any suitabl means (not shown) for operating the needle bar i3 and the needle [4 carried thereby. Also mounted in this head is the usual presser foot l5 cooperating with the 7 Claims. (Cl. 112-134) machine.

2 usual feed is in the bed of the machine. The presser foot is mounted on the usual presser foot bar IT.

My improved ruffling attachment comprises a bracket l 8 which is mounted on the upstanding portion Ila of the head H and is made in two sections l9 and 20 which are shaped to embrace the upright portion Ha of the head, and are secured together by any suitable means such as the screws 2! through ears or lugs 22 on these two sections on opposite sides of the section Ila. To securely secure the bracket to the head of the machine and to compensate for variations in the shape of this section i la, the two sections I9 and 20 are provided with any suitable number of "transversely extending set screws 23 which may be clamped against the walls of the portion Ila and securely mount this bracket on and clamp it to the machine head. These are preferably the countersunk type of set screws so as not to project from the bracket to form projections on which the cloth may catch. They with the bracket also provide means which eifectively holds this bracket and therefore the whole ruiliing attachment rigidly and effectively in position, and prevent its shifting during operation of the device at any speed of the sewing The sections of the portion of this bracket embracing the machine head may be of any cross section desired, that shown being substantially T-shaped as it provides great strength for the amount of material used.

The rear section i9 includes a longitudinal bearing support 24 in which is mounted a tubular bearing or sleeve 25 for a rufiler shaft 26. The tube or sleeve 25 is of larger internal diameter than the shaft 26 and supports a pair of bearings 21 adjacent its opposite ends for this shaft. The sleeve 25 may be secured in the support 24 by any suitable means. Thus, it may be a tight or press fit, or it could be secured by a set screw (not shown). The sleeve 25 projects from the bearing24, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to a position adjacent the needle bar, but it will be seen that it is located rearwardly' of the head H and the needle bar and presser foot and extends longitudinally of this head at a proper distance above the bed 10. The outer end of the shaft 26 projects from the sleeve 25 and may be extended any desired distance as is found necessary or desirable forjlocating the rufiler blade at any position relative to the needle and the presser foot. There is a downwardly extending arm 28 secured to this shaft by any suitable means such, for example, as the set screw 29 and is forked at its lower end 38 for carrying a bar 3i which is pivoted to the arm 28 and the fork 36 at 32, and extends forwardly therefrom above the bed Ill to a position in frontof the needle and presser 0 foot where it carries the transverse stud 33 Jon which is mounted the rufling blade 3i. This is a thin tempered steel blade provided with cloth gripping teeth 35 at its free edge and may be slotted asrirfdicatedatzfl to embracethepathof the needle. It is clamped on the rod 33 by'the supporting head 3! and is clamped in any desired angular position on the bar 31 by the nut 38. This rufiier blade is also a spring-bladeso .that it may yield upwardly on backward movement over the cloth and also to compensate for variations in the thickness of the cloth to be-stitche'd and ruffled. The free end or tooth edge isdirected rearwardly. The bar 3| is made in two sections 39 and 40 to permit adjustment of theposition of the miller blade. In the particular form shown; :the :section -39 isofifchannel :shape and zthe section 40 .iszfiatbar mounted in the channel and provided with an elongated slot 4| through :which :clamping i screws 42 mounted in the sec- :tion '39 :mayrexten'd for clamping the section 40 indifferent-adjusted; positions. The: bar-3 l also hasa rearwardrextension. to which a tension spring :64 :may be secured andalso. securedrat its upper end to-a rod45 extendinglaterally from a ing- '45::-of-a"supporting collar-securedon the sleeve 25 -.-by any: suitable means, --such, for. example, as the -'set screw =48. Mounted on -the :presserffootbari 1-isa liftin means-49 comprising a rod having a lateral =1ower= end portion :50 extending under the--bar13l so "thaton'lifting .of the presser foot-this liftert-o'fl --will-also raise the rforward end of the bar 4 land lift the ruiliing blade from -the work, to permit-withdrawal .of -the work or adjusting of it to-=any;ps-ition.

The shaft r2fi iscoperated from some operative :part 'of the-machine, preferably from. the shaft i2 in :the sewing machine heads-by meansiofean eccentric cammounted 'on-this-shaft, and-a :connecting rod-:--52-leading from the eccentric :housing 53 embracing" the cam. and connected .to the upper end of a curved operating arm or lever :54 secured on the opposite'endof the-shaft 26 by "any suitable'means, such; for example, as theset :screw 55. This prevents the shaftZt-shiftingto :the left1as viewed in-Figs. land 2, anda stop ccollar 56 securedrori the shaft atthe other end of sleeve 25 ibywany-suitable means such as theset screw 51,-;prevents the shaft shifting in the opposite: direction. The eccentric cam 5! may be secured directly to the shaft I2 but it. is.prefer- "ablyxsecured to-theusual .hand wheeliiil. .Thus inuhounting this connection'the handwheel may be removed from the shaftand the eccentric secured to the inner side thereof" by any "suitable "means, such, 'for'exam-ple, asthe screws-e59. Between-the eccentric and-the housing- -53 is an an- *tifriction or ball bearing. for quieter'and more effective operation and the connecting rod 52 is adjustable. This "rod is threaded on its opposite ends, one of which'is-a right handand the other :a lefthand thread. iThus, forexample, the portion 6| maybe a left hand thread threaded'intothe lug-.62 :onthe-housing 53-aande secured in adjusted position by a lock nut'63. The other end. 64 has a right hand thread-and is threaded into a block 65zand secured inadjusted position "by a lock "nut 66. This bloclc65 haste. spherical bearing for'aball 6'!- on the bolt; 68 connecting .this blockttoithe' lever armSfl-tothus provide a universal 'jointwhich will permit lateral or rocking:.-movements as-"well pivotal movements. of the connectingcrod 52 with respect to the lever arm" 54,- and thus prevent any. binding'or. crampingaction: between the-housing .53 and the lever L5 in operationpfythe device-and assure.-.sm00th,

efiective operation. For the purpose of adjusting the movement or throw of the ruffling blade the bolt 68 is adjustable along the arm 54. In the construction shown the arm Ed is provided with 5 a longitudinal curved slot 65 in which the bolt 68 is mounted and in which it may be secured -'in adjusted positions by a clamping nut "ill, or if desired this bolt may be shifted along the slot and therefore vary its distance from the operatlfl ing shaft 26 by means of a hand or foot operated lever (not shown) by means of a rod H connected to a lug 72 on the block 65. A coil spring I3 may be connected to this lug l2 to tend to lift this block to the upper position, the spring being supported by any suitable means, such as an ex- -:t611$i01'1- bar l i mounted on the machine head.

The usual separator blade used with ,the .rufiling-blade is .shown at '35 in front of .the .pres-ser foot and is carried on an arm 16. pivoted .at 11 to a supporting arm 18 mounted on. the .sleeve bythe head portion. 19 embracing the --sleeve and adjustabiy secured theretoby any suitable. means such,- for example, asthe set, screws .80. Mea-ns is also provided for varying the angu- 5 lar position of the arm 16 and the blade,.and.in :the. form shown comprises a h1g3! on the arm :carrying an adjusting screw. 82 resting against vv ajstop rib 83.0nthe arm.

It will be seen from the above that this ruiiiing .device or attachment can be completely. assembledeas a unit, on a bench or other-location and secured to the sewing machine by removingthe hand wheel 58 and securing the eccentriccam thereto, and then replacing this wheel on the 5 shaft 12 and clamping the bracket l3 on the head :ofthemachine as shown. The ruffiing blade may :be adjusted and located at proper positions byadjustingthe arm .28 to the proper position voniihe goperating shaft .26, andadjusting the blade supportAll in the section .39 of the rodl3i. The angular position of the wheel 58 on the shaft H determines thetiming of .the device with relation to-the needle. and thef-eed. It is arranged so that:as the needle pointgoes into the goodsthe ruffler blade moves forwardly with respect to. the machine, which is the reverse or nonoperating onovement of the. blade. The vbladeruffies the :fabric asit-movesin the samedirection as the .feed mot-ion,.aor that is, rearwardly,-.but it, rllfflts it because it movesiasterthan the feed. When the connecting rod or armifiz from the eccentric :dr-iveis .at the .top of the slot in the arm 54, there is-very little, if any, .movement to the rufiier blade, or at least the throw is at a minimumand the length of .the ruiile. or the throw .oftheblade -;is varied .by shifting the connectiondownwardly in the slot 69,the greatest movementof the .bladebeing. secured when this connection is in the lower end portion of this slot. It will. b e 0 evident-that with the .devicearranged as'shown there is nothing in front of the needle or presser .foot eithertoobstruct theview oi the work or to interfere-with thegoperation. Therefore, the'operator has .aclear View of thework and all oper- 65 .ations at. all times, and the movements of the-op- .erating .mechanism cannot interfere with this work or .distracther attention. Also therefis nothing on which the operator can be injured. .IIo prevent .changing of the position of gjthe 70.,ruffiing blade with relation to the feed or needle .Whenshifting the connectionfifi in the s10t=54, .this change can be compensated for bytheadjustment of rod 52., By loosening thenuts 63 and .,6B. the rod-.52.,maybefichanged to vary its efiective 75..1ength...by means .of .the right and ileft'hand threads to compensate for variations due to shifting of the connections 65, and it can be secured in adjusted position by tightening the nuts 63 and 66. It will also be seen that the position of the arm 28 and therefore the blade can be adjusted either longitudinally or angularly on the shaft 26 by merely loosening the set screw 29, and this screw may be locked in clamped position by a lock nut 84 to prevent the possibility of the arm loosening up in operatiton. By this means the link or bar can be set in any desired position, either right or left of the needle, by simply shifting this arm on the shaft.

It will be understood different types of work feed blades may be used on this device for ruiiiing or other operations as found desirable, or feed teeth could be used for shirring or similar operations. The spring 44 and arrangement of arm 28 and bar 3| provide for varying degrees of tension of the rufiier blade or shirring feed teeth on different types of cloth. With this arrangement the spring provides an increasing tension as the blade moves forwardly in the direction of feed of the cloth, because the bar 3| swings counterclockwise about its pivot 32 as viewed in Fig. 4 on this motion, thus lengthening spring 44. This tension decreases on the reverse or backward motion. The tension of the spring 44 may be adjusted by shifting position of the bar 45 angularly about the sleeve 25.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A ruflling attachment for sewing machines comprising as an assembled unit and attachable to a sewing machine as such, a bracket, means for mounting the bracket on the head of the machine, said bracket including a bearing at the rear of said head, a shaft mounted in said bearing and extending horizontally to a position at the rear of the presser foot of the sewing machine, an arm mounted on said shaft, a bar pivoted to and extending forwardly from said arm to a position adjacent the presser foot, a work feed blade mounted on said bar, a lever arm mounted on the shaft, and means connecting said lever arm to an operative part of the sewing machine to oscillate said lever arm and shaft.

2. A milling attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket, an oscillating shaft mounted in the bracket, means for securing the bracket to the head of a sewing machine to locate the shaft to the rear of the said head and to the rear of the presser foot of the machine, a depending arm carried by the shaft, a forwardly extending bar pivoted to said arm, a work feed blade mounted on said bar and located adjacent the presser foot, and means for oscillating said shaft connected to an operative part of the machine.

3. A ruflier attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket, an oscillating shaft mounted in the bracket to extend horizontally to the rear of a sewing machine head, an arm secured to said shaft, a bar pivoted to and extending forwardly from said arm, a work feed blade carried by said bar adjacent the machine presser foot, an operating lever arm secured to the shaft, an eccentric crank, a bearing housing embracing said crank, an adjustable connection from said housing to the lever arm, an operative connection from the sewing machine to said crank to operate it, and means for securing said bracket to the sewing machine.

4. A rufller attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket including separable curved parts to embrace the upright portion of a sewing machine head, means for clamping said parts about said portion to secure the bracket thereto, said bracket being provided with a horizontal bearing at the rear of said head, a horizontal shaft extending from said bearing to a position at the rear of the presser foot of the machine, a laterally extending arm mounted on the shaft, a bar pivoted to and extending forwardly from said arm, a work feed blade mounted on said bar adjacent the presser foot and directed rearwardly, and means connecting said shaft with an operative part of the machine to oscillate said shaft.

5. A rufiler attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket, means for clamping the bracket about the upright portion of a sewing machine head, said bracket including a horizontal bearing at the rear of said head, a sleeve mounted in said bearing and projecting laterally therefrom, spaced bearings on the sleeve, a shaft mounted in said latter bearings and projecting from the free end of the sleeve, a depending arm mounted on the shaft, a forwardly extending bar pivoted to the lower end of the arm, a work feed blade mounted on the bar adjacent the machine presser foot and directed rearwardly, said bar being provided with a projection extending rearwardly of its pivot, a support on the sleeve, a coil spring connecting said extension to said support, and means connecting the shaft with an operative part of the machine to oscillate the shaft.

6. A ruffiing attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket, means for clamping the bracket to a sewing machine head, said bracket including a horizontal bearing at the rear of said head, a shaft mounted in said bearing and extending horizontally at the rear of said head to a position at the rear of the presser foot of said machine, a depending arm mounted on said shaft, a bar pivoted to and extending forwardly from the lower end of the arm, a work feed blade mounted on said bar adjacent the presser foot and directed rearwardly, a lever arm secured to the shaft, an eccentric crank, an adjustable driving connection from the crank to said lever arm including a ball and socket connection, said connection being movable along said lever arm toward and from the shaft to vary the throw of the work feed blade, and means for securing the crank to an operative part of the machine to operate the crank and oscillate the shaft.

7. A rufliing attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket, means for clamping the bracket to a sewing machine head, said bracket including a horizontal bearing at the rear of said head, a shaft mounted in said bearing and extending horizontally at the rear of said head to a position at the rear of the presser foot of said machine, a depending arm mounted on said shaft, a bar pivoted to and extending forwardly from the lower end of the arm, a work feed blade mounted on said bar adjacent the presser foot and directed rearwardly, said bar comprising two sections, means securing said sections together for relative lon itudinal adjustment and securing them in adjusted positions to vary the position of the blade, and means connecting the shaft to an operative part of the machine to oscillate the ALFRED F. DE ROSE.

No references cited. 

